SAILING: John Sangmeister seeks Transpacific record in yacht race

The goal for John Sangmeister and his crew is to break the Transpacific Yacht Race multihull record of five days, nine hours. The means to achieve it is the exquisite Lending Club trimaran.

Sangmeister and his eight-man crew showed off their 77-foot, three-hulled vessel to Southern California media earlier this week. They're preparing for Saturday's departure from Point Fermin, training mentally and physically for the 2,225-nautical mile journey to Honolulu.

"(A successful race will be getting) everyone there safe and sound," said Sangmeister, "and to break the record. Those are our priorities, for certain."

Sangmeister's vessel, a former America's Cup test boat which he bought six months ago, is a technological marvel and a thing of beauty on the water.

Its three hulls glide gently along the surface and the boat can reach speeds of 38 knots (45 mph), powered by the sails upon its 100-foot mast.

It's outfitted with the latest in navigational gear, but has precious little room for its nine-man crew. To ease the burden, the crew works in shifts, one on deck while another sleeps and eats below.

Sangmeister is an accomplished sailor and a veteran of three previous Transpac campaigns. In 2009, he crewed the OEX to victory in the Division II sled class, and he was part of Dennis Conner's victorious Stars & Stripes effort in the 1987 America's Cup.

His crew is an experienced bunch, some of whom Sangmeister has sailed with for over 30 years. They are: Erik Berzins, Ryan Breymaier, Howard Hamlin, Renaud LePlansche, Gino Morrelli, Will Oxley, Jay Steinbeck and Peter Stoneberg.

First raced in 1906, the Transpac attracts sailors from all over the world.

This year's race has 58 entries, including boats from Mexico, Canada, Germany, Japan, Thailand and Italy.

From a strategy standpoint, Sangmeister breaks the long race into three categories - a rough 250-mile stretch as boats leave the California coast, the long middle section in the Trade Winds, and the speedy final 100 miles into Honolulu.

"My biggest concern is that we don't break the boat in the first 250 miles," said Sangmeister, citing 12-18 foot seas and winds as high as 30 knots. "It's a fairly benign race, but there are elements to watch out for."

The slowest classes left Point Fermin on Monday, and the second group will depart today. The fastest boats, including Lending Club and fellow multihull entry Phaedo, will be the last to leave.